Advertisers love to tell potential customers that they should “accept no substitutes!” You can see a version of it throughout the history of Coca-Cola’s advertising, for example. In the early days of the company, phrases like “demand the genuine” and “accept no substitutes” were a key part of the way Coca-Cola promoted its fizzy beverage. Among Coke’s most famous slogans is “It’s the Real Thing;” in other words, don’t let yourself fall prey to inferior imitators.
Now, we know you didn’t come to this blog in search of information about advertising strategies. But here is a case where an advertising slogan offers exceptional advice for people who are in recovery from a substance use disorder.
The fact is you really should accept no substitutes. No substitute addictions, that is.
What is a Substitute Addiction?
A person with a substance use disorder is battling addiction to drugs or alcohol. But those are far from the only things a person can be addicted to. For some people, even after they have done the hard work of getting sober, a different addiction sneaks into their lives. That new addiction—which might be said to replace or substitute for a substance use disorder—may not come with identical dangers to those associated with ongoing use of alcohol or drugs, but a substitute addiction can have devastating consequences nonetheless.
Let’s take a look at a few examples.
Exercise Can Become a Substitute Addiction
As a rule, we are big advocates of exercise for people in recovery. It is good for your physical health and for your mental health—and by extension, for your efforts to maintain your sobriety. In most cases, exercise has far more upside than downside.
But some people find themselves obsessing about exercise. A person developing a substitute addiction centered on exercise may find themselves working out several times a day or exercising more strenuously than is safe for someone at their current fitness level. They may begin to skip out on work or social obligations or family time to work out, not unlike the ways in which they might have spent most of their time using or pursuing drugs in the past. A person in this situation is at risk of hurting themselves physically—and of damaging their relationships with others. Those issues can quickly lead to a relapse.
Gambling Can Become a Substitute Addiction
Some people in recovery from a substance use disorder find themselves looking for something that provides some of the rush they used to get from drugs. They may not even be conscious that they are seeking a kind of high, but a person in this situation may find themselves exhilarated by gambling. The risk and potential reward can fill in for what they are missing from their former lifestyle.
But of course, gambling can go sideways in a hurry—and can have a crushing effect on your finances, your relationships, and, ultimately, your sobriety. It is a much, much safer bet for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder to leave the gambling to others.
Work Can Become a Substitute Addiction
Are you getting to work early, working through your lunch hour, and staying late? Do you work all weekend? Do you have trouble sleeping because you are always thinking about work? It is possible that you are in danger of developing a substitute addiction centered on your job.
It is not too hard to see how that might happen—especially to a person eager to prove themselves after getting treatment for a substance use disorder. You want to make sure your boss and your coworkers know that you are fine—heck, better than fine—and eager to contribute to the collective cause at work.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with showing some spirit and initiative at work. But for a person in recovery, there is a danger that work starts to fill in the gaps you used to fill with drug or alcohol use. This can lead to burnout in a hurry—and burnout actually puts your hard-won sobriety at risk. That is why it is important to keep things in perspective so that you do your job well while still giving yourself time to rest and recharge.
Accept No Substitutes for The Aviary Recovery Center
Located near St. Louis, Missouri, The Aviary Recovery Center has been named among the best substance use treatment facilities in the nation. That means (with apologies to colas everywhere) we’re the real thing.
We offer inpatient and outpatient programs designed to help you reclaim and maintain your sobriety. Our work is grounded in empathy, evidence, expertise, and experience—and our commitment to providing personalized care and ongoing support is second to none. That is why we encourage you to accept no substitutes when it comes to getting treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. The Aviary Recovery Center is here to help.
